Ear-muff.



No. 869,401. PATBNTED OCT. 29, 1907. S. R. WELLS.

EAR MUFF.

APPLICATION FILED 00122, 1906.

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SAMUEL R. WELLS, OF GREENFIELD, INDIANA.

EAR-MUTE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 29,1907.

Application filed OOtObBI 22 1906: 861181 No. 3401014- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL R. WnLLs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greenfield, in the county of Hancock and State of Indiana, have invented certain "new and useful Improvements in Ear-Muffs, of which the following is a specification.

The principal object of my present invention is to provide in connection with a head covering, such as a hat or cap, a convenient ear muff which may be folded up into the crown of the hat or cap when not in use, and which can be readily unfolded and brought into use when desired. A further object is to provide a frame for such a muff which will also serve as a holder to secure the hat in place on the head.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, and on which similar reference characters indicate similar parts, Figure 1 is a perspect-' ive view illustrating the appearance of my invention in use; Fig. 2, a central sectional view through a hat equipped with said invention, certain portions being also broken away to show construction which would otherwise be hidden; Fig. 3, a horizontal sectional view as seen when looking downwardly from the dotwhich is composed of wire.

ted lines 3 3 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a detail sectional view upon an enlarged scale similar to a portion of Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 an elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 4.

I have shown this invention as it appears when applied to an ordinary Derby hat; but, of course, it may be applied to any other form of head covering.

The device includes metal, which extends entirely around the head of the wearer, the ends a and b thereof being united by a slip joint and thus rendered adjustable, as shown where the sweat band of the hat is broken away in Fig. 2. Upon this metal band is mounted the frame of the ear muff The ends 22 of the wire hook around the band 21 on one side, and said wire extends up and hooks over the band at the other side at 23. The wire is spring wire and is coiled into small springs at the points 23, in order to cause the device to hug closely upon the parts to which it is attached. The wire is again coiled at 25 around a pin 26, and from thence extends out and forms a loop-like frame 27 upon which the fabric 28 forming the body of the ear muff is secured. The springs are so arranged that normally. .the ear muffs are held into the'crown of the hat, as

shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, but when they are desired for use they are brought down over the ears as shown in Fig. 1the position also being shown in Fig. 2. The loop-like frames 27 are of a size and shape to a band 21, preferably of thinsurround the ears of the wearer, while the soft, warm fabric of which the bodies of the muffs is composed covers the ears and protects them. The frames also engage with the ears and serve as an efiicient means for holding the hat on the head. These frames may also be used for this purpose in warm weather, in which case the fabric 28 would be removed.

In applying this invention to a hat, the band 21 is placed between the sweat band 31 and the body 320i the hat. The portions of the wires which extend down and terminate in the coiled springs 25 are brought down over the sweat band as shown. The device is thus securely held in place within the hat. The band 21 is slipped to fit tightly within the interior wall of the hat by means of the slip joint at its ends a and 1) shown in Fig. 2.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. An ear muff comprising a band other than a band on the head-covering adapted to entirely surround the head of the wearer, separately-constructed wire mull frames mounted on said band, and a suitable covering fabric mounted on the frames.

2. An ear muff comprising a band adapted to surround the head of the wearer, wire muff frame mounted'on said band, and a suitable covering fabric mounted on the frame, the wire being formed into coiled springs at the point where the muff frame leaves the mounted.

3. The combination, muff structure comprising with a head-covering, of an eara band adapted to be inserted between the sweat band and the wall of the head-coveringand united by a slip joint at the ends whereby it may be adjusted to the size of said head-covering, spring wire muff frames mounted on said band and having loops adapted to surround the ears of the wearer, and suitable fabric secured on saidioops.

4. The combination, adapted to be inserted between the sweat band and the wall of the head covering, wire muff-frames mounted on said band and having springs formed therein and adapted to be arranged to clasp the sweat-band of the head'covering to the metal band, and suitable ear covering fabric secured to the niuiI frames.

5. The combination, with a headcovering, of a frame secured within said head-covering composed of a continuous flat band and separately-constructed spring wire frames mounted on said band and adapted to be held either-within the head covering or to come down and engage with the ears of the wearer.

6. The combination, with a head covering embodying the usual sweat band, of suitable supports constructed independently of said head covering and its sweat band and adapted to be removably inserted between said sweat band and the wall of said head covering, wire muff frames mounted on said supports and having coiled springs emwith a head-covering, of a band hand on which it is Q 1- l eeeflor bodied therein at points on the opposite side of the sweat tance therefrom which operate to hold the mud frames 10 hand from the supports when the latter are placed in posiinto the head-covering when not in use.

tion behind the sweat band, and a suitable covering fabric In witness whereof, I, have hereunto set my hand and secured to the muff frames. seal at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 20th dayof October,

7. The combination, with a head-covering, of suitable sup- A. I). one thousand nine hundred and six.

ports secured between the sweat band and the wall of the SAMUEL R. WELLS. (L. s.]

head-covering. wire mutt frames mounted on said supports, Witnesses:

said wire frames embodying coiled springs forming part of CHESTER BRADFORD,

the support clasps, and other coiled springs at a little dis- THOMAS W. MCMEANS. 

